Liner hanger



Sept. 7, 1943. l C. M .OLEARY 2,328,840

LINER HANGER ATTORNEY Sept. 7, 1943.

c. M. QLEARY LINER HANGER 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1940 INVENTOR/l/l. (ff/vary, BY mfg/19%' ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 7, 1943 UNITEDSTATES vPATENT OFFICE4 LINER. HANGER Charles M. OLeary, Houston, Tex.

Application June 3, 1940, Serial No. 338,501

12 Claims. (Cl. 166-1) The present invention relates generally to oilwell equipment and more partlcularlyto casing liners, and has for itsprimary object the provision of means for hanging a liner in a casing ina direct, positive manner insuring its effective retention, and at thesame time providing for its retrieval or removal at any time adjustmentthereof is desired, or repair or replacement thereof becomes necessary.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a liner hanger andmeans for setting the same, which are of simple, economical constructionboth as to first cost and upkeep and are singularly free from thecomplications of those devices now in use such as interengaging threadedand milled connections between the hanger and the setting tool or means.A further object has to do, therefore, with the manner and means ofengagement or connection between the hanger and the settingtoolproviding in a practical inexpensive construction for the speedyeifective setting of the hanger as well as the disengagement and removalof the setting tool after setting of the hanger.

It is generally conceded that the practice of hanging or suspending theliner in a well pipe insures that the liner will not collapse of its ownweight, become buckled, or shift position in the hole, and is `the bestpractice in view of the further fact that the liner is thereby preventedfrom sinking into soft formation at the bottom of the hole and cannotfall into cavities or otherwise 'lose alinement with the hole above.Since, however, as commonlsr used in two types, one known as the pack oitype with rubber or other packing means, and the other known as a plaintype without packing means, such liner hangers invariably depend uponthe engagement of slips with the Well pipes from which they aresuspended, the manner and means of bringing about such engagement becomehighly important. l

to disengagement of the setting tool during theV run in period and whichoffers a minimum fric- Another object of the invention has to do, i

therefore, with the slips and the means whereby they are normally heldinactive during run in and may be released and positively set while thehanger is stationary in the pipe to thus insure its setting at preciselythe desired point.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liner hanger which canbe set at any point in a well casing without impartingtorsional orcompressive strains to the liner or liner hanger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liner hanger in whichthe holding slips are forcefully and equally expanded in a manner totional resistance to disengagement of the setting tool after the linerhas been anchored.

Another object of the invention is to provide a' setting tool that isfool-proof in construction to an extent making it impossible for aninexperienced operator to damage either the liner hanger or setting toolduring the releasing operation either by carrying an excessive amount ofthe setting string weight `upon lthe tool, or by rotating the settingstring more than the necessary number of times to eiect a release fromthe liner hanger.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a hangerwhich includes a setting and releasing tool of a nature adaptable to theuse of a wash pipe therewith so that in one trip the hole may becirculated clean and the liner subsequently set before release andwithdrawal of the setting tool.

With the above general objects in mind, other and further objects aswell as the resulting advantages of the invention will clearly appear inthe course of the following detailed description of the best mode so fardevised for carrying the invention into practice, and may be better`understood and more thoroughly appreciated by reference to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andwherein,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a well casingand a portion of a liner, as well as the plain type of hanger of thepresent invention and its setting tool, showing these latter parts afterrun in and prior to actual setting.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the parts in position after positivesetting'of the slips and prior to any withdrawal movement of the settingtool.

Figure 3 is another similar view showing the parts in position ready forwithdrawal of the setting tool.

Figure 4 is still another similar view showing the liner and its hangerafter withdrawal of the setting tool, and,

Figure 5 is a detail vertical longitudinal sectional view through aliner hanger of the packed off type.

liner indicated at A, of somewhat smaller diameter than the well pipe orcasing B, and of any desirable apertured or slotted perforation, may bemade up on the lower end of either the plain or packed off type ofhanger and that the latter are in all essential respects the same as faras the present invention is concerned, diering only as to slightmodification permitting the use of packing in connection therewith inthe case of the packed ou hanger of Figure where no packing is used withthe plain hanger of Figure 4 which is also shown in Figures l to 3inclusive.

In each instance the hner A is threaded at its upper end into a couplingI0 which is threaded onto the lower reduced end I l of a collar I2 whichhas an upstanding sleeve portion I3 surrounding In the case of thepacked off type of hanger, as

shown in Figure 5, the adaptor head 24' is precisely the same as in theplain type in so far as its means of engagement with the setting toolare concerned. In other words it is provided with a conicallycounterbored upper end has dian metrically opposed longitudinal grooves26 therethe lower portion of the body or barrel It oi the hanger ofFigures 1 to 4 inclusive in spaced relation thereto for the reception inthis space of an annular packing ring I5 below a. helical spring I3preferably square spring steel.

The collar I2 has therein, immediately above its reduced lower portion II, an internal annular rib I1 forming an annular space il' in collar I2below the rib IT, and presenting a threaded internal surface for thesecure connection of the externally threaded lower end of barrel Il ofFigures 1 to 4 inclusive. The rib Il is also provided with a series ofvertical ports i8, spaced therearound, communicating attheir lower endswith the annular space I1 and communicating` at their upper ends withthe above mentioned annular space between barrel I4 and sleeve I3. Thelower ends of these ports I8 open, as before stated, into the interiorof collar I2 below its said rib l1.

Extending downwardly into the above mentioned space between barrel IB ofFigures 1 to 4 inclusive and sleeve I3 isfthe lower cylindrical guideportion i3 of a slip setting plunger 20 having upstanding arms 2iengaging at their upper free ends the larger lower ends or bases of theslips 22. It will be understood that these slips 'are movable lengthwiseof the barrel Id exteriorly thereof and are disposed in an annularseries of dove-tail grooves therearound, each slip being en-V gaged byone of the said upstanding arms 2l of the slip setting' plunger 20. 1

The lower edge of the lower cylindrical guide portion i9 of the plunger20 is seated on the' spring I6 and thus when the parts are otherwiseTree, as when the slips are set in engagement with the internal surfaceofthe casing or pipe B to prevent downward movement of the hanger andthe' liner suspended therefrom, the spring exerts a constant tension tohold the plunger upwardly against the slips 22. All of the parts thusfar described in connection with the barrel I3 of Figures 1 to 4inclusive are precisely the same as those in connection with the barrelI4', shown in Figure 5, and it is only when we proceed above the slips22 that there are differences between the two constructions.

In the case of the plain hanger of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the slips22 are disposed in lengthwise dove-tail grooves grouped around the upperportion of the external surface of barrel le. The dove-tail grooves justmentioned have downwardly tapering bases 23 on which the slips areslidably seated, and are located immediately below the integral adaptorhead 24 at the upper end @of the barrel i4, which receives, andcooperates with, the setting tool to be presently described.

For the above purpose the head 25 has a conically counterbored end asseen at 25 and is provided below said counterbore with diametricallyhead 24', and the space between the lower edgev of the adaptor head 24'and the upper edge of expander 29 receives packing 3| which islongitudinally compressed and in this way laterally expanded intosealing engagement with the well pipe or casing l,l by downward movementof the adaptor head 24' and barrel I4' with respect to the expander 29after the slips 22 have been set.

In both thevplain and packed off types of hangers as above described,the slips 22 are, in the initial lowering or running in of the hanger,held in the lower deeper portions of the expander slip grooves by meansof shear screws 32 set into the tapering bases of the slip grooves atthe upper smaller ends of the slips as plainly seen in Figures 1 and 5.These screws are sheared oi when the -slips 22 are forced upwardly inthe setting of the hanger as presently described and when so sheared,the slips are free to move to set position as seen in Figures 2, 3 and4. I

The setting tool of the present invention, as shown within the hanger inFigures l to 3 inclusive, is equally applicable to the plain and packedoi types of hangers, and its description of application with referenceto the above figures will be understood to apply equally to the hangerof Figure 5. This tool has its body formed by a hollow cylindricalmandrel 33 provided with an upper enlarged head '34. The head 34 isinternally threaded for secure connection to the lower end of a run instring 35, which may be tubing, drill pipe and the like, so that thebore of the string becomes alined with the bore of the mandrel 33. Thehead 34 also supports therearound, preferably A,in an anti-frictionalmanner, a. seating ring 36 Asleeve 38 and force the same to shiftupwardly on the upper part of the mandrel 33 when the latter is rotatedto the right.

The mandrel collar 31, which may, as shown, join two sections of themandrel 33 for convenience in assembly of the parts, .serves at itsupper edge as a seat for a split spring clutch ring 40 having an upperbeveled edge and whose normal external diameter is somewhat less thanthe internal diameter of barrel I4. This ring is of an internal diameterless than the reduced lower end of the control and expander sleeve 38and is f ring 45 will be depressed as above described and such that whenthe latter is in assembly forced downwardly into the ring from theposition of these parts shown in the released position of Figure 3 tothe clutched position shown in Figure 1, the ring will be expanded intolocking position within the annular groove 21 of the adaptor head 24.

It will be understood that for the above purposes, it is presupposed themandrel 33 of the setting tool has been positioned within the barrel I4of the hanger `as shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive andit will be notedthat in the initial assem- 1 bly of the parts, the seating of the headring 36 on the upper end of barrel I4 positions the clutch ring 40 inhorizontal alinement with barrel groove 21 so that Athe clutch ring maybe expanded therein as above described and the setting tool thuseffectively connected to the hanger whereby the latter may be run intothe casing with its pendant liner A to the position at which the latteris to be set in the well pipe or casing B.

When the setting tool is within the barrel I4 of the hanger as above,the lower end of its mandrel 33 depends to approximately the lower endof said barrel and it will be noted that at its said lowerend, themandrel threads securely within the -upper end of a collar 4I in thebarrel,

the lower portion of which collar snugly and slidably interflts the boreof the lower reduced portion of barrel collar I2. The wall of mandrelcollar 4I has radially extending openings 42 which communicate betweenits bore and the annular space I1' in the collar I2 below rib I1, whichspace is substantially sealed off when the upper portion of mandrelcollar 4| is in the lower end of the barrel and the lower portion ofsaid collar is in the lower portion of the barrel collar I2'.

In the bore of mandrel collar 4| is an annular upwardly facing shoulder43 forming a seat for the lower end of a coil spring 44 whose upper endengages a relatively thick walled, ring shaped valve member 45 tonormally hold said member in its upper position against the lower endof' mandrel 33, in which position it extends across and closes theseveral wall openings 42. .The upper end of valve 45 has a seat for asetting ball 46 which is dropped through the run in string and fallsthrough mandrel 33, the ball being of such diameter that it closes thebore of the valve 45, whereby pump pressure can be applied within themandrel above said valve, to force the latter downwardly to a positionin the bore of mandrel collar 4I where the openings 42 are uncovered asin Figure 2. g

The mandrel collar 4I is also preferably provided with a reduced lowerextremity 41 to which may be attached, as shown in Figures l to 3, theupper end of a wash pipe 48. Thus when the setting tool, with the linerhanger and liner carried thereby, are initially run in the casing B asthe parts are shown in Figure l, and before the setting ball 46 isdropped, the bottom of the well bore or hole may be thoroughly washed,as circulation is established through the run in string and wash pipe48, around the hanger before it is set.

When the bore has been washed or circulated clean, the setting ball 46is dropped in the run in string and comes to rest on the upper end ofvalve ring 45 which presents a somewhat smaller internal diameter thanthe mandrel 33. Thus upon the application of fluid. pressure the valveopenings 42 uncovered so that fiuid under pressure may be pumped intothe internal annular groove I1 of the collar I2 below the hanger barrelwith the parts in the position shown in Figure 2, to thus force thepacking I5 upwardly. At this time, the spring I6 is in tightlycompressed condition so that it forms in effect a solid body between thepacking I5 and the lower guide portion I9 of the slip setting plunger20.

4Plainly the fluid pressure actuated upward movement of packing I5.acting through plunger 20, will force the slips 22 upwardly, shearingthe screws 32, and spreading the same on the expander to the engagedposition shown in Figure 2. The liner A and its hanger as previouslydescribed, are now in set position.

In the next operation, therefore, the run in string is lowered so thatits weight is carried on ring'36 and it is rotated to the right andclutch ring expander 38 is thus shifted upwardly from its activeposition of Figures 1 and 2 to its inactive position of Figure 3substantially above the clutch ring 40 whereby the latter may retractand recede from the barrel groove' 21 to free the setting tool forbodily withdrawal upwardly out of, and free from, the liner hanger,leaving the latter anchored in the casing or well pipeB in the positionshown in Figure 4.

The above sequence of operations for the plain type of liner hanger alsosuiiices for the packed off hanger as shown in Figure 5, after slips 22have been set as described, the run in string is lowered to applydownward pressure on the setting tool before its release, to thus forcethe hanger barrel I4 downwardly, shearing screws 30 and thus forcing thebarrel through the slip expander 29, since the latter cannot movedownwardly with the slips 22 set in connection with the casing B. Theresult is that packing 3I is longitudinally compressed and laterallyvex- `panded into sealing engagement with the castends to cause thelatter to tightly grip the ring expander 38. This situation changesimmediately upon the setting of the hanger in the casing and the slightlowering of the run in string so that its anti-friction seating ring 36rests on the upper end of the barrel I4, so that the run in string nowrests on the set hanger and relieves the clutch parts of the tensionpreviously imposed by the weight of the liner and liner hanger. Hence,with the heavy friction relieved and an anti-friction engagement of therun in string with the hanger, it becomes an easy operation to releasethe setting tool by rotation thereof as previously described.

'It also is to be noted that in the rotational release of the settingtool, upward shifting movement of the clutch ring expander 38 ceaseswhen its trunnions 39 move beyond the upper ends of the vertical grooves26. It is apparent from this that the expander 38 cannot be run upwardlyagainst the seating ring to impair the function of the latter whichavoidsl the otherwise probable disadvantage of great friction if toomuch weight of the run in string is lowered on the hanger. To the aboveextent the apparatus of this invention is fool-proof and provides formaximum frictional engagement of tool and hanger going in, and minimumfrictional engagement thereof after the liner hanger has been set.Furthermore it permits unlimited rotational releasing movements of therun in string and setting tool in respect to the liner hanger withoutdamage to these parts.

Attention is particularly called to the fact that by setting the slipsby fluid pressure, uniform operation thereof to set the hanger incoaxial relation to the casing is assured, and that this advantage isobtained by an arrangement including means closing the pressure portsduring run in and cleaning operations before setting. Furthermore thearrangement for this purpose provides a considerable pressure force forinitially setting the slips and a relatively small spring force forholding them in set position, thus bringing about positive setting ofthe slips and at the same time eliminating excessive CII frictionthereof against the casing when the liner is retrieved. l

It is obvious the liner hanger as thus fully set forth and described,while capable of .changes and modications in many respects, presents onthe whole a strong, effective and durable device of this class of wellequipment, which is singularly free of time Wasting complications insetting and release of the setting tool, which is of such positiveaction as to preclude any possibility of failure of proper support ofthe liner,

and may be economically made and assembled in a manner admitting ofready easy replacel I ternal annular shoulder in said bore, a settingtool extendible into said bore and to rest on the hanger, a split springclutch ring around, and seated on, portions of said tool for positioningopposite said shoulder and of a diameter, when contracted, less than thediameter of the hanger bore, a portion of said tool adjacent said ringbeing threaded, a ring expander having threads internally thereof anddisposedon the threaded portion of the tool and having one end thereofextendible into the ring to expand thelatter into engagement with saidshoulder of the hanger, and cooperating means carried by said expanderand the hanger constraining the former to movement lengthwise of thetool when the latter is rotated in the hanger.

3. A liner hanger having a passage therethrough, pipe gripping meansexternally thereof, and fluid pressure-actuated means for shifting saidgripping means actuated plunger member and spring means engaging saidplunger member to hold the gripping means lightly in engaged positionafter release of fluid under pressure against said plunger member.

4. A liner setting tool having an anti-frictional setting ring rotatablyaround its upper portion,

including a pressure.

and a clutch control member threaded thereon below said ring. 'l

5. A liner hanger having a bore and vertical grooves in its internalsurface, opening at their upper ends into the bore below the upper endof the latter, an expansible clutch ring for engaging the internalsurface of'the hanger below said grooves, and a setting tool having asupport for said ring, a ring expander threaded on said tool above theclutch ring and having means extending into said grooves to constrainthe same to movement lengthwise of the tool for the lengths of thegrooves, and a seating ring in anti-frictional connection with thesetting tool for engagement with the upper end of the hanger.

' 6. A liner hanger having a bore, and a setting tool for disposition insaid bore, a clutch ring supported around said tool for gripping thehanger in expanded position, a ring expander threaded on the tool andactuated by rotation thereof, and cooperating means on said expander andthe hanger for constraining the expander to limited movement lengthwiseof the tool into ,and out of the ring, during rotation of the tool.

7. A liner hanger, a setting tool therefor, clutch means therebetweenreleasable by rotation of the tool and held in substantial frictionalresistance to such rotation, by the weight of the hanger during run inof the latter, and a member in anti-frictionally rotatable connectionwith the tool for engagement With the hanger to support the weight ofthe tool and its run in string after the setting of the hanger and tothus relieve the frictional resistance of said clutch means torotational release.

8. In a liner hanger, a barrel having a passage therethrough, pipegripping means externally thereof, means having a sleeve around andspaced from the barrel and also having openings communicating betweenthe barrel passage and the lower portion of the spacevwithin the sleeve,and a plunger actuated by fluid pressure from the barrel for setting thepipe gripping means,

, said plunger having a portion normally engaging the gripping means andanother portion slidable in the space Within the sleeve.

9. In a liner hanger, a barrel having a passage therethrough, pipegripping means externally of the barrel, an external plunger movablelength- Wise of the barrel against said gripping means, a sleeve formingan annular space around the barrel, receiving a portion of said plunger,and in communication at one end with the barrel passage, and a springunder Ytension between said last mentioned end ofthe said space and theadjacent portion of the plunger.

l0. In combination with a'well liner and run in string for setting saidliner, means including 4an expanding clutch ring for releasablyconnecting the liner and run in string and a nut for disengaging saidring operable by rotation of the run in string, and an anti-frictionmember between the run in string and the liner to relieve frictionalresistance'to relative rotation between the run in string and liner asthey are disconnected.

l1. In combination withl a liner hanger and run in string for settingsaid hanger, said hanger having means4 forming an internal annularshoulder and lengthwise grooves adjacent to said shoulder, a clutch ringexpansible in opposing relation to said shoulder for releasablyconnecting the liner and run in string, a nut shiftable by rotation ofthe said string within said grooves cation at one end with the barrelpassage. a 10 plunger around the barrel in contact at one end with saidgripping means and having its other end slidable in said space, atension spring in said space with one end engaging the last mentionedend of'the plunger, and a movable packing member between the other endof the spring and the passage communicating end `ofthe space within thesleeve.

CHARLES M; OLEARY.

